Let’s begin with, Why do we want to tithe? Well, the tithe represents ten percent of our net income, and tithing is a minimum manifestation in the physical realm of what we recognize internally—that God is our basic Source of supply and prosperity. With thankfulness for what God has already done for us in the new birth, we set aside at least one-tenth of our net income to give for the Lord’s work. By giving that tithe, it makes us conscious of our partnership with God, especially in the financial and material realms.
In His Word, God tells His people to tithe and unfolds the benefits of doing so. We’ll see in the following verses that the simple procedure of tithing puts us in direct contact with God and opens the floodgates for His abundance.
Malachi 3:10-12:
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
Tithing is a practical way that we show our willingness to honor God, to work with Him as our partner, to receive the prosperity that He desires for our lives. Part of our partnership with God is to give back a portion of what He has blessed us with so there is a means to carry out the work He wants done.
Malachi 3:10-12 shows two major benefits we can expect for giving back at least a tithe of our increase to help with the work of the ministry. First, God promises to abundantly bless our lives; and second, He protects us from our adversary, the Devil. God’s abundance is always beneficial to our lives and never has a downside associated with it. God will do for us what we simply cannot do for ourselves as we work in harmony with Him. The great promises of the Old Testament regarding the tithe are still available today.
Proverbs 3:9,10:
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Now, Why do we want to abundantly share? Well, tithing has never been improved upon except by increasing the proportion, and that is abundant sharing. “Abundant sharing” is a term we use in The Way Ministry referring to freewill giving that goes beyond the tithe.
Giving from a heart of love is a principle in God’s Word that always yields abundant blessings. And we have the privilege to give cheerfully and bountifully, knowing that God will abundantly supply our needs when we give.
II Corinthians 9:6-8:
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
Abundant sharing with the right attitude and a cheerful heart is an outward recognition of our trust in and love for God. God has given us a tangible way to demonstrate our partnership with Him and to recognize Him as the Supplier and Source of our prosperity. And as a result, God abundantly meets the needs of those who give bountifully. We can never outgive God.
Philippians 4:19:
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Why tithe? Because it is God’s will for us to do so, and because it brings blessings and protection to our lives. Why abundantly share? Because it is God’s will that we give bountifully, putting Him first in our finances, so that we can receive bountifully and abound to every good work. God loves a cheerful giver!